The Niger
Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says it has paid over 5.910 million U.S
dollars (about N2.28 billion) for tuition and stipends owed stranded
scholarship students in the United Kingdom.
Mr Charles
Odili, NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, said in a statement in Port Harcourt
on Monday that the commission disbursed the sum to 197 scholarship
beneficiaries of 2019.
He added that
the commission had also begun processes for the payment of school fees owed 94
scholarship beneficiaries for 2018 batch.
“Among the
197 beneficiaries are 43 scholars for Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), comprising
12 for 2016 and 31 for 2019.
“The
beneficiaries under this category got 30,000 dollars (N11.56 million) each,
amounting to 1.29 million dollars (N496.65 million).
“In the
Master of Science (MSc), category, 154 beneficiaries of 2019 were paid 30,000
dollars each, amounting to 4.42 million dollars (N1.702 billion).
“In addition,
the payment processes for 94 beneficiaries of 2018: 40 for Ph.D. and 54 MSc
beneficiaries are ongoing,” Odili stated.
Odili said
the Interim Management Committee (IMC), of the NDDC commend the determination
of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, in seeing to the
payment of the students.
The NDDC
spokesman blamed the delayed payment to the death of Chief Ibanga Etang, the
then acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration (EDFA), of NDDC.
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